Basic knowledge of Shichigosan that cannot be heard now

There are various events in Japan that suit each season.

"Why did it take the form of the event?"

"What kind of meaning do you think about connecting to the present?"

However, each event is different.

There are also events that were born overseas and came to Japan, not events that were born in Japan. The number of events has increased with the times, and Japanese people are enjoying modern seasoning. With that in mind, I think Japanese people like events.

Shichigosan is one such event. "Shichigosan" is an event to pray for the healthy growth of children. It is also an event to thank you for growing up healthy until you are three, five, and seven years old. I will talk about the basic knowledge of Shichigosan, which is not an annual event at each house, but is an "indispensable and important event". If you read this, you will be able to solve the knowledge of Shichigosan, which you cannot hear anymore.

What is the origin and origin of Shichigosan?

It is said that the origin of Shichigosan was a samurai event.

At the age of three, "begin to grow hair (hair rest)", at the age of five, "wear a hakama for the first time (wearing a hakama)", and at the age of seven, "begin to use an obi (obi)"

In that way, we celebrated the growth of children and the step-up to adults according to their age. In the past, the mortality rate of children was high, so parents and children thanked God, saying, "He grew up safely until he was old enough to wear a hakama for the first time." "Oh, thank you. I was happy that I was alive, growing, and living to this age.

It is said that it was during the Edo period that the current form of Shichigosan, "photographing, visiting shrines, and dining with family (relatives)" was adopted. Of course, I couldn't take pictures at that time, but it seems that I was celebrating Shichigosan in a style very close to the present age, in which children wear beautiful kimonos, visit shrines and celebrate with relatives. With the passage of time, the world of Heisei, the record of the growth of grown-up children, and photography as a milestone of the clan have come to be taken.

Even if the times change, the meaning of the event, Shichigosan, is to pray for "thanks for the safe growth of the child" and "to continue to grow healthy in the future." When I hear about shooting, I think "must be an expensive kimono?", But that is not the case. The details will be described later, but the most important thing in Shichigosan is feelings. It does not mean that "spending money = good thing". Recently, more and more photo shops and restaurants where you can eat are preparing courses for Shichigosan. While listening to your child's opinions, why don't you think about what kind of Shichigosan you want to make with your parents?

Girls may have more dreams than their parents, "I want to wear a beautiful kimono." There are many beautiful and colorful kimonos of Shichigosan. It may be fun for mothers and daughters to go out and choose kimonos together. Although it is an event, "enjoying" is also important. It's a celebration.

What is the flow of Shichigosan? When are you going to visit?

The simple flow of Shichigosan is in the years when girls are 3 and 7 years old and boys are 5 years old (children used to be counting years, and now they are generally full age).

-Dress up your child and take a photo
-Go to a shrine
-Have a dinner party in the sense of celebration

It consists of three steps. However, you don't have to do everything. I couldn't make a reservation because the order of photography was so crowded, so there are some houses where I only have to visit the shrine and take pictures at a later date. In addition, some homes do not have dinner parties. The range of people to be invited at a dinner party also varies considerably from region to region. It is a famous story that Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures tend to celebrate Shichigosan more grandly than other prefectures. There are regional differences in this area, and it depends on the circumstances of each family. There is no rule that "this should be done". There is no problem if you change the order or shift the date according to the convenience of each house.

In addition, there is no particular rule regarding the date of Shichigosan. Generally, many homes celebrate in November. This is because the Shogun of the Edo period, when Shichigosan was in its current form, was celebrating on November 15th. The reason why we often do Shichigosan around November is that it is associated with the celebration of these old great men.

It can be Daiyasu Yoshiday, or it's a good idea to celebrate your child's birthday.
At the house where the business is run, there are times when a festival of a god associated with the family business or a celebration of a shrine that worships that god is held. Celebrate Shichigosan for the convenience of your children, parents, and relatives. If you have children aged 5 and 7, it is possible for your siblings to play Shichigosan. It's a good idea to discuss this with your family and decide.

There are no strict rules for Shichigosan itself. However, don't just visit a shrine or take a photo, make an inquiry first and make a reservation with plenty of time.

How about the shrine you visit and thank you for your celebration?

It doesn't matter whether the shrine you visit is a local shrine or a distant shrine. However, the current situation is that many people visit local shrines because of the burden on children and the convenience of transportation. It doesn't really matter which shrine you visit, not because it's a popular shrine, but because it's important to appreciate your child's growth and wish for good health in the future. Listen to your family and children to decide.

Depending on the shrine, a notice of 753 may be posted on the homepage. If you contact the shrine, they will tell you about the visit to Shichigosan, so don't go to the shrine you care about suddenly for the celebration of Shichigosan, and make sure to check in advance. If there was something like "I can't use the main shrine today because of the shrine," the result would be disappointing.

Depending on the area and people, the money may be wrapped up in the celebration of Shichigosan.
Basically, thank you is not necessary for the celebration of Shichigosan. However, the current situation is that more and more people wrap sweets in gratitude. If you want to thank you, it's a good idea to use 1/3 or more of the amount you received as a guide.

Finally

I talked about the basic knowledge that cannot be heard now, such as the origin and flow of Shichigosan. Japan is a country that values ​​the seasons. There are many events of various origins in the season. It's not important to spend money on an event, but it's important to understand why you came to do such an event and enrich your mind.

Talk to your children and grandchildren about Shichigosan. I'm sure your child's heart will be as colorful as a kimono in Shichigosan.